Panneerselvam says Sterlite Copper plant in Thoothukudi will be closed

Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam was visiting the hospital in Thoothukudi where the anti-Sterlite protesters who were injured in alleged police firing were admitted.

Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam on Monday said here that the government will take necessary steps to permanently shut down the copper smelter plant of Vedanta Ltd, popularly known as Sterlite Copper.

Pannerselvam visited the hospital in Thoothukudi and inquired about the health of those injured in the police firing on anti-Sterlite Copper protestors on May 22, in which 13 persons died.

The deputy CM was speaking to reporters in Thoothukudi and said that compensation to the injured were being paid.

Normalcy was slowly returning to Thoothukudi, with shops and other establishments opening their doors for customers.

Internet connectivity has also resumed on Sunday after it was suspended on May 23.

“Shops are open now. Normalcy is returning. But till the copper smelter plant is permanently closed, there will not be total peace in the city,” S Raja of Thoothukudi Traders Association told IANS.

Raja also said murder charge should be registered against the police officials who shot the protestors.

According to Raja, post mortem has been done on seven bodies out of the 13 who were killed in the police firing. However, the relatives have not claimed the bodies yet.